The minimum ‘standard’ wage for a skilled worker VISA has been updated by the UK as of April 4, 2024. It now states that the salary must be greater than either £38,700 annually or the ‘going rate’ for the appropriate sort of work.

Effective immediately, the UK government has raised the wage requirements significantly for the skilled worker visa (April 4, 2024). With this modification, the minimum wage needed for anyone hoping to enter the UK on this visa will increase by 48%, from £26,200 to £38,700. Additionally, the minimum income criterion for people seeking for family or partner/spouse visas would increase from £18,600 to £29,000, with these come effective, starting of April 11.

“The UK government announced its plan to curb immigration abuse and cut net migration at the end of 2023,” a representative from the British High Commission told 193CC. The package of reforms includes raising the minimum wage requirement for skilled worker visas, and UK firms are urged to concentrate on hiring the most talented individuals possible.”

Detail of the updated salary thresholds: general increase in the salary threshold

The main modification is the rise in the annual general minimum wage requirement from £26,200 to £38,700 for the skilled worker visa. This increase affects a number of job categories and could have an impact on industries that rely on foreign workers with specialized skills.

Before, in order to be eligible for the visa, skilled workers had to meet a minimum wage requirement. The minimum wage has now been raised. This implies that the only people who can apply for the skilled worker visa are those whose occupations pay more than the new minimum. Possibly fewer applications A higher pay threshold may result in a smaller pool of qualified personnel. This may have an effect on particular industries that greatly depend on competent.

There are, however, several exceptions, most notably for healthcare professionals. 

The salary threshold for health and care visa roles will see a comparatively modest rise to £29,000 annually, acknowledging the critical role these professionals play in the UK. Additionally, specific roles within this sector may benefit from a lower salary threshold, set at £23,200 or the occupation-specific threshold, whichever is higher. Also, Education sector has a set of occupation codes which has lesser salary requirements.

Read about lesser salary requirements: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skilled-worker-visa-eligible-healthcare-and-education-jobs/skilled-worker-visa-eligible-healthcare-and-education-jobs

Salary requirements

A worker needs to be paid the ‘standard’ salary rate of at least £38,700 per year, or the ‘going rate’ for his job, whichever is higher. For Example, a worker salary is £39,000 per year, but the annual going rate for the job he will be doing is £45,000. He/she will not meet the usual salary requirements for this visa.

Find the annual going rate for jobs that are eligible for the Skilled Worker visa and the Health and Care visa in the following official link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skilled-worker-visa-going-rates-for-eligible-occupations

Rules for new entrants

The policy aims to accommodate new entrants into the UK job market, including recent graduates, by offering eligibility for reduced salary thresholds. Any worker under 26, studying or a recent graduate, or in professional training, they can be paid 70% of their job’s standard going rate if your salary will be at least £30,960 per year when he/she applies their age must be less than 26 or currently in the UK on a Student visa studying at bachelor’s degree level or above – or have been in the last 2 years, and a Student or visit visa was their most recent visa or currently in the UK on a Graduate visa, or they have been in the last 2 years you’ll be working towards a recognised qualification in a UK regulated profession

PhD holder benefits

Those holding a relevant PhD may also enjoy lower salary requirements, as part of efforts to attract highly skilled individuals to the UK workforce.

Applicant’s whose job is eligible for a PhD salary discount, you can be paid 80% or 90% of the job’s standard going rate, depending on which subject they are qualified in.

If they have a science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM) qualification, they can be paid 80% of their job’s standard going rate, as long as they will still be paid at least £30,960 a year.

For those who are working in a postdoctoral position in certain science or higher education roles, they can be paid 70% of their job’s standard going rate as well.

The changes will have a direct impact on immigrants who choose the career or skilled worker visa route because those who work as butchers, restaurant servers, waiters, or retail managers will not be eligible under the updated standard requirements. Such opportunities are projected to decline dramatically, as salaries in these areas frequently fall below the new level.

On the other hand, those who are aiming for jobs in engineering and IT might not find the higher cut too difficult to overcome. Candidates in these fields may benefit from improving their qualifications or negotiating better terms with future employers, which is something that some applicants may need to do. The goal of this tactic is to improve the standing of senior and executive-level immigrants.